Fall 2017 Issue 22

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Thursday, November 16, 2017 | Vol. XCII, Issue 22 | Binghamton University | bupipedream.com

The Free Word on Campus Since 1946

Clean-energy panel explores industry access Local leaders discuss introducing sustainable solutions to campus, region Jillian Forstadt Assistant News Editor

The Binghamton University Smart Energy Building is LEED-certified, meaning it gives back more of the environment than it takes in. The building is a product of the clean-energy industry a potential career path many of the 80 students who attended the Clean Energy Careers Panel hope to pursue after graduation.

On Wednesday evening, six panelists convened in the Fountain Room of the Innovative Technologies Center to discuss opportunities within the clean-energy field. The event, moderated by Brian Rose, vice president for student affairs, was co-sponsored by several organizations, including Southern Tier Solar Works, the Binghamton Regional Sustainability Coalition and the Fleishman Center for Career and Professional Development.

According to Adam Flint, program manager at Souther Tier Solar Works, who spearheaded the planning of the event, panelists were strategically selected to represent diverse perspectives. Paul Deamer, senior assistant director of employer and alumni outreach at the Fleishman Center, said he hoped students took away a better understanding of how to get into the

Sean Lastig/Contributing Photographer Sara Culotta, business development and marketing manager of Taitem Engineering, spoke to students about her own path to a career in the clean-energy industry at a panel on Wednesday evening. Students in attendance came from a variety of majors, a fact that that panelists said will benefit the field.

SEE ENERGY PAGE 3

Concert tickets resold online Mayor voices concern Unofficial sellers hike up Post Malone ticket prices Jacob Shereck Contributing Writer

Less than two days after 4,800 tickets for the fall concert featuring Post Malone went on sale, floor access and general admission were sold out, leaving interested students scrambling to find tickets.

Some students, like Rachel Zielinski, a senior majoring in biology, are trying to find tickets in various Binghamton University Facebook groups, including the “Binghamton University Class of 2019” page.

Zielinski said that she originally tried to buy tickets through the University two days after they were released, but after looking away from her computer for what seemed like a moment, the tickets were sold out.

“I actually was on the webpage and able to click on the link and then went to talk to my roommate and a second later I couldn’t click on it,” Zielinski said. “I was going to have my best friend from home come and visit to see Post Malone but now she’s not, which is very sad.”

When Zielinski tried to look for tickets in Facebook groups, she said that the people she contacted were selling tickets for $125.

Floor tickets originally cost $40 and general admission were $25, so students could be paying more than five times face

Post Malone Tickets on national tax reform Type

Price

Sellout time

Broome County, New York residents could pay more

Floor

$40

90 minutes

Sasha Hupka

General admission

$25

< 2 days

4,800 tickets sold Tickets made available: Wednesday, Nov. 1 at 9 p.m.

Fall concert: Thursday, Nov. 30 at 8 p.m.

Cory Bremer/Design Manager

value for a resold ticket.

“Honestly the whole situation has been frustrating and depressing,” Zielinski said.

“I get that Post Malone is popular, but I just wished I would have had a warning in regard to how fast tickets were going to sell out.”

Libby Aliberti, the Student Association Programming Board (SAPB) vice president for programming and a senior majoring

in biology, said this year’s fall concert sold out more quickly than any other that she’s aware of.

“Our tickets went on sale at 9 p.m.,” Aliberti said. “The floor tickets sold out in 90 minutes. The tickets officially were sold out by the third [of November]. In our time here, the arena has not sold out.”

Assistant News Editor

Carnegie Library, located on Exchange Street in Downtown Binghamton, was built in 1903 and is scheduled to be renovated as a space for Broome Community College’s new Culinary Arts Center. According to Binghamton Mayor Rich David, those plans are currently stalled and could be completely derailed by tax reform plans in Washington, D.C. In a press conference Tuesday, David expressed his concerns about changes to the tax code currently being discussed in the House of Representatives and Senate that would put an end to the state and local tax deduction and the historic tax credit.

The state and local tax deduction was established in 1913 and is one of the oldest tax codes still in use in the United States. It allows filers to itemize their deductions, rather than claiming the standard reduction, and deduct either the amount of state and local property, sales or income taxes paid over the course of

a year, lowering the amount of income taxed by the government. The House tax bill would eliminate the deduction for income and sales taxes, and limit the deduction to $10,000 for property taxes, while the Senate tax bill would eliminate the deductions entirely.

David, who previously voiced his opposition to the tax reform plans at the New York Conference of Mayors in Albany on Nov. 13, said the reforms unfairly target citizens of highly taxed states like New York, New Jersey, Maryland and California.

“People in New York state and the city of Binghamton and Broome County shouldn’t be paying more, or have their deductions jeopardized so tax relief can be provided elsewhere across the nation,” David said. “That’s not fair.”

According to The Pew Charitable Trusts, in 2015, 29.8 percent of filers nationwide used state and local tax deductions, and in New York, 34.6 percent of filers claimed an itemized deduction, saving them an average of $12,707. According to David, the tax reforms will hit the middle class hard and could have a big impact on Broome County.

SEE TAX PAGE 2

SEE TICKETS PAGE 3

Dickinson adds VPMA position Community is third to implement seat

(SA), promoting an inclusive campus community and helping ensure that minority voices are represented in the SA. VPMAs of residential communities Michael Levinstein would be tasked with helping to solve Contributing Writer issues related to diversity and awareness in their specific communities.

Dickinson Community voted last A bill requiring community executive week to add the position of a vice boards to create a VPMA position was president for multicultural affairs proposed at a Student Congress meeting (VPMA) to its executive board, joining last month. But a provision in the Mountainview and Newing in offering legislation, in which a community’s the position. constitution wouldn’t be approved Historically, the position has without a VPMA position, caused the bill existed only in the Student Association to be tabled indefinitely.

OPINIONS

The letter-of-intent period for the position lasts until Nov. 19 at 9 p.m.

Currently, Khaleel James, an undeclared freshman, is the only resident to have submitted a letter for VPMA of the Dickinson Town Council (DTC.) “This position is new and I believe it should be taken very serious so that it can continue to be there for the representation of the multicultural people on campus,” James wrote in his letter.

All candidates will give speeches on

SEE VPMA PAGE 2

Sasha Hupka/Assistant News Editor Binghamton Mayor Rich David joined other local officials Tuesday to voice opposition to Congressional tax reform bills that would eliminate state and local tax deductions and historic tax credits.

ARTS & CULTURE

SPORTS

Advice columnist Jessica Gutowitz tackles questions on crushes and procrastination,

An English professor dabbles in existentialism,

HPC stages a spelling bee with a comedic twist,

Women’s basketball sweeps two-game home stand,

Wrestling prepares to host No. 1 Penn State,

See page 5

See page 6

See page 6

See page 10

See page 10

2

NEWS

bupipedream.com | November 16, 2017

TEDxBinghamtonUniversity selects student speaker Senior Stone Geise to present in March 2018 Erin Kagel Contributing Writer

Eight years ago, TEDxBinghamtonUniversity was a small group of students who gathered in a classroom in the University Union. Now, it’s a full-day event in the Anderson Center that attracts professionals from media, athletics and academia.

Each year, the organization opens up an application process for a student to give a talk alongside the other presenters.

Stone Geise, a senior majoring Kevin Paredes/Photography Editor in biochemistry, has been chosen as the student speaker for this Stone Geise, a senior majoring in biochemistry, has been chosen as the student year’s event. Although he can’t respeaker for TEDxBinghamtonUniversity in March 2018. Geise cannot reveal the veal the specific topic of his talk, topic of his talk but said he thought it would be especially useful for college students.

Geise said it will be beneficial to

college students.

“It’s about the glass being half full or half empty and altering the perspective of it,” Geise said. “It’s looking at the correlation between how half full is optimism, half empty is pessimism, and basically flipping it.”

Kyrin Pollock, the TEDxBinghamtonUniversity director and a senior majoring in biomedical engineering, said the first step is the submission of pitches, or the first five minutes of a proposed talk. This year, 45 pitches were submitted.

“From there, we go through all the pitches that get submitted and then we read through and then select the ones we like the most,” Pollock said. “Then we invite those second-round applicants in for an interview process.”

In 2015, Jack Fischer, ‘17, presented on the dangers of pornog-

raphy to the human psyche and in interpersonal relationships.

Virtual reality was the 2016 topic of students Pollock and Matt Gill, a senior majoring in electrical engineering, the founders of the startup Enhance VR. This spring, Mollie Teitelbaum, ‘17, spoke on implicit peccadillic biases, or disproportionate biases toward personal habits like chewing loudly or having a large ego.

While the theme for the 2018 event won’t be revealed until the spring, Pollock said Geise’s talk fits the general requirements for every student speaker.

“What we really look for in the talk is an idea worth spreading,” Pollock said. “Something unique with a lot of passion for the talk and good speaking skills as well, and Stone fit all of the above.”

Geise said he’s always been a fan of TEDxBinghamtonUniver-

sity, and has been thinking of his idea since early this semester.

“I’ve always seen it and thought it was cool, it was just a matter of having an idea that I feel like other people can get along with and could be impactful in a way as well,” Geise said. “The idea just popped into my head and I ran with it.”

Although the student speaker has already been chosen, Pollack said there are still ways for students to get involved with the event.

“This year, we’re also going to do a stage-design contest so that students will be given the theme and then they’re going to create a stage design based off of that as well,” Pollock said.

TEDxBinghamtonUniversity is scheduled for March 25, 2018 in the Anderson Center in the Fine Arts Building.

Dickinson to elect VPMA Mayor questions tax bill VPMA FROM PAGE 1 Nov. 28, and the voting period will last from Friday, Dec. 1 at 9 p.m. to Sunday, Dec. 3 at 9 p.m.

Griffin Mayhew, executive vice president of DTC and a senior majoring in history, said DTC plans to continue advertising the new position to community residents.

“We are going to be having hall ambassadors knocking on doors; we’re having flyers going around, hammering emails out,” Mayhew said. “We are really going to keep this up until we can get a solid group of people to apply for the position.”

Emily Lubin, the president of DTC and a sophomore double-majoring in psychology and Spanish, said she believes adding the VPMA position will have both a symbolic meaning

and an important practical purpose for the community.

“We definitely need a VPMA to promote the multicultural community, to promote multicultural community events and to get people involved,” Lubin said. “Also, just to be there as a support for people who might not be comfortable or not even have a voice at all.”

Lubin said executive boards across campus were left with important choices after racist drawings were found in Endicott, Digman and Onondaga halls last month, and said she plans to have responses to similar issues directed by the VPMA. “We were really struggling about what to do,” Lubin said. “We were not prepared, and with the VPMA, someone can definitely help.”

More community councils might

follow DTC’s example. Sydney Maiman, academic vice president for the College-in-the-Woods Council and a sophomore majoring in political science, said other community executive boards are also hoping to add a VPMA position.

“This position will allow for students to have a representative in their hall government working solely to honor our shared value of inclusivity,” Maiman said.

Yasha Parawar, an undeclared freshman, said she thinks the position is helpful to minority students.

“I feel like a community like this without a lot of diversity could benefit because the minorities in this community could feel like they are underrepresented,” Parawar said.

“I feel like a VPMA could give them a voice.”

TAX FROM PAGE 1 “This is a common deduction that many people take advantage of, and its elimination will have a significant impact,” David said. “The number of [state and local tax] deductions per congressional district in this 22nd District is 62,530 deductions, so that’s a significant amount.”

In addition to the state and local tax deduction, the historic tax credit would also be excluded from Republicans’ tax reform plans. Historic tax credit, added as a federal tax code in 1986, incentivizes the rehabilitation of historical buildings by providing a 20

percent credit on projects that renovate or preserve them.

The tax credit, which applies after the project is completed, is one of the ways cities finance expensive renovations. In the city of Binghamton, the redevelopment of the Carnegie Library, the Binghamton Masonic Temple, the Grand Royale Hotel and the Stevens Square building could all be put in jeopardy by the loss of the historic tax credit, David said.

“Many of these buildings are so decrepit that they are beyond the point of repair, unless these tax credits are utilized,” David said.

Other local leaders, including Sen. Fred Akshar;

Kevin McManus, deputy Broome County executive; and Jason Andrews, superintendent of the Windsor School District, have also spoken out against the proposed tax reforms.

Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo wrote in a statement that she strongly opposed the bill.

“The elimination of the state and local tax deductions would be devastating for families in my district,” Lupardo wrote. “To add insult to injury is the proposed elimination of historic tax credits, which are critical to many of the redevelopment projects happening throughout the state.”

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O PINIONS FFUN PAGE UN III Thursday, Thursday, Thursday, Monday, Monday, September November October October April 3,2,5, 2017 28, 16, 2017 2017 2017 2017

Post Malone ticket prices rise TICKETS FROM PAGE 1 However, the SAPB said it can’t do anything about overpriced, resold tickets.

Ashley Blake, the concerts chair for the SAPB and a senior majoring in history, said the board didn’t want students to take such drastic measures to attend the concert, and it plans to address the problem for future shows.

“We’ll be changing the system to try to ensure that more of our students can pay the discounted price we try to give them with the student shows,” Blake said.

Aliberti said that in the future, students will have more time to purchase tickets before members of the public are allowed to. She said the SAPB wants to make students aware that if they buy tickets from a reseller, they’re doing it at their own risk.

“Our only warning to people buying resold tickets is that there’s a possibility that they are fraudulent tickets,” Aliberti said. “We have no way of controlling that now.”

Brandon Link, a senior majoring in mechanical engineering, found out he has a conflict with the concert and is selling his ticket.

He said sellers frequent Facebook groups because they think it’s more advantageous to sell to strangers and younger students instead of friends.

“Selling your ticket to a stranger for a higher price is much easier than highballing your friend,” Link said. “Sellers tend to be targeting the younger classes because they seem more willing to spend a higher price on tickets.”

Because the concert sold out so quickly, Blake said the SAPB feels they no longer needs to heavily promote it.

“We expected the show to do well, but not less than two days sold out,” Blake said. “We had a lot of plans for advertising that now there’s no need for.”

Post Malone’s performance at the fall concert is scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 30 at the Events Center. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the show begins at 8 p.m.

Panel discusses green careers ENERGY FROM PAGE 1 clean-energy industry.

“We decided it was important that we showcase that this industry is a growing field that would be relevant for students in many disciplines, not just engineering, which is typically what people think when they think of clean energy,” Deamer said.

Flint said there are 146,000 New Yorkers employed in clean energy, with 2,400 in the Southern Tier alone.

The other panel members were Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo (D-Endwell); Carl Lipo, director of the environmental studies program; James Bedrin, ’14, project manager at the Southern Tier regional office of Empire State Development; Sara Culotta, business development and marketing manager of Taitem Engineering; and Amanda Setteducate, lead energy corps intern at Southern Tier Solar Works and a senior double-majoring in biology and environmental studies, were featured speakers at the panel.

Lupardo, who is also a member of the New York State Assembly Environmental Conservation Committee, said she’s trying to champion environmental causes, although she’s battling local leaders who she said are dismissive of this work.

“Locally, we’re seeing some successes and those successes are breeding some optimism,” Lupardo said. “The skeptics are seeing that and seeing some tangible results coming from this.”

One example of these successes is Charge CCCV, a BU startup that

will employ more than 230 people in developing methods of storing renewable energy in Endicott.

During the audience discussion, students voiced challenges they’ve faced in getting peers and elected officials to address the need for sustainability. Culotta encouraged students to continue developing their ideas in the face of criticism.

“Keep looking, if you’re feeling frustrated, keep looking because you will be able to find people who can help you,” Culotta said. “Some folks will think your ideas are crazy but a lot of things that we take for granted now started as crazy ideas.”

After the formal discussions, students got the chance to network with panelists, gaining further insight into the field and possible internship opportunities.

Setteducate said her internship allowed her to expand her opportunities in the field beyond research and impact the greater Binghamton community.

“Making these opportunities visible and available for students is really important and things like this do that,” Setteducate said. “It shows you the different paths you can take from wherever you start.”

Wei Xiao, a senior doublemajoring in economics and philosophy, politics and law, is currently conducting research in clean-energy use and waste management on an international level. He said having Lupardo on the panel related the conversation to his interests in public policy.

“I wanted to hear more about how professionals feel about clean energy, from a local perspective,” Xiao said.

aDDress: University Union WB03 4400 Vestal Parkway E. Binghamton, N.Y. 13902 phone: 607-777-2515 fax: 607-777-2600

Can I have this dance?

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Fall 2017 eDitor-in-Chief* Gabriella A. Weick editor@bupipedream.com Managing eDitor* Noah Bressner manager@bupipedream.com news eDitor* Orla McCaffrey news@bupipedream.com asst. news eDitors Amy Donovan Jillian Forstadt Sasha Hupka opinions eDitor* Emily Kaufman opinions@bupipedream.com asst. opinions eDitor Savanna I. Vidal

Kevin Paredes/Photography Editor On Wednesday evening, members of the Ballroom Dance Club met in University Union Room 108. Current members taught interested students basic ballroom steps.

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Police Watch The following accounts were provided by Investigator Patrick Reilly of Binghamton’s New York State University Police.

Potato launcher found on campus Friday, Nov. 10, 8 p.m. — An officer conducting a walkthrough of Endicott Hall of Newing College noticed a large orange object leaning against the side of the building. Upon closer inspection, the officer realized that the object appeared to be a potato launcher. The officer stayed in the area to see if somebody would come back and claim it. Some time later, an 18-year-old male appeared and picked up the launcher.

The male began to walk toward the entrance of Endicott Hall. The office approached the male and asked him why he had the launcher.

The male explained that he’d built it for a competition held by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. He showed the officer an email explaining the project.

The officer informed the male that it’s against University policy to have a potato launcher on campus.

The potato launcher was confiscated, but the male was given a slip to pick up the launcher from UPD when he was ready to transport it off campus.

Boots stolen while ballin’ Saturday, Nov. 11, 1:20 p.m. — A 19-year-old female contacted UPD after her L.L. Bean boots were stolen from the West Gym. The victim said she’d been playing dodgeball in the basketball court around 8:30 p.m. on Nov. 9. She said she’d placed her boots, jacket and

Sasha Hupka Police Correspondant

backpack on the floor on the side of the gym. According to the victim, she left the West Gym around 9 p.m., and upon returning to her friend’s dorm, realized she didn’t have her boots. The victim said she contacted staff at the West Gym, but nobody knew anything about the missing boots. The boots are valued at approximately $180, and according to police, they haven’t been turned in to the lost and found. The case is under investigation.

Fur missing from jacket Saturday, Nov. 11, 6:20 p.m. — UPD was contacted by a 21-year-old female after the fur was stolen off her Canada Goose jacket. The female said she was attending a sorority volleyball tournament in the West Gym, and had left her jacket, which is valued at $400, at the edge of the gymnasium with everybody else’s belongings.

According to the female, the coyote fur hood liner of her jacket was taken sometime between 3:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. while she was watching the game. The female said she searched the area but was not able to find the fur. The case is still under investigation.

Hinman hallway trashed Saturday, Nov. 11, 10:40 p.m. — Police responded to Roosevelt Hall of Hinman College after a Residential Life employee contacted UPD. The employee said he found trash and paint spatter in a hallway on the ground floor of the building. It appeared that the trash and paint had been spilled across the floor. Officers interviewed residents to see if they’d noticed anything, but residents said they didn’t know anything about the incident. Maintenance was contacted to clean up the hallway. The case is under investigation.

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stabilizing: hbd paul

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OPINIONS Thursday, November 16, 2017

Blaming ourselves All students should be responsible for preventing drinking-related deaths Hannah Rosenfield Contributing Columnist

Jorden James/Editorial Artist

BU should switch to renewable energy

Alternatives to coal are cost-efficient and less harmful to the environment Alec Weinstein Contributing Columnist

Another abnormally warm fall in the Binghamton area is coming to an end. The lingering trauma of this extended summer hasn’t been lost on me, either.

Climate change is evident in both the extended growing season and an almost complete abbreviation of fall, as we have seemingly gone straight from summer into winter. However, what has disturbed me more than the weather itself were the glib responses to it I’d overhear extolling how warm or sunny it was for October — unseasonable warmth is something to be enjoyed, apparently, instead of dreaded.

With this in mind, I was horrified to learn that our campus has its own power plant on the edge of campus that is mainly powered by coal. Coal is, by far, the most pollutionintensive fossil fuel. It is unacceptable that Binghamton University, a leader in academic prestige and institutional clout, is still home to a power plant that spews noxious pollution, thus contributing to climate change.

With each warm spell there seems to be an accompanying disaster around the world and at home. Climate change is rapidly transforming from an abstract phenomenon into something that is affecting all of us through changes to our livelihoods, mental health and even mundane experience of the weather.

BU students protested the

coal plant in 2009; however, the administration then said natural gas was too expensive to compete with coal. This is no longer the case. Over half of the U.S. fleet of coal power has been retired since 2008, and despite the rescinding of President Donald Trump’s Clean Power Plan, economics, as well as ideology, have not slowed that pace since the 2016 election.

There is no reason BU cannot switch entirely to natural gas, solar, wind or hydropower.

When necessary, battery storage in the form of lithiumion batteries can be introduced to improve the efficiency of power distribution. With batteries, excess energy produced is stored and can be released into the campus grid during peak demand rather than having to burn more coal. The plummeting price of

renewable energy and the moral imperative of fighting climate change make this decision an obvious one.

As the self-proclaimed premier public university, a move

by BU toward more than just natural gas could be a milestone in New York’s transition to clean energy. The institutional and historical ramifications of such a gesture would be massive. At this point, it is much less of an ordeal to make the switch than it would have been 10 years ago.

We must fight the apathy regarding climate change, with both physical strides in clean technology and mentally, with a change of consciousness that isn’t overjoyed at the idea of a fifth month of summer.

— Alec Weinstein is a senior majoring in English.

North-American Interfraternity Conference has gained a 50 percent increase in membership in the past 10 years. Students feel drawn to the friendship and camaraderie that Greek life will offer them.

Many students consider their Greek life experience as significant to their college careers, and those who choose to go Greek feel strong connections to their organizations, even attributing their individual growth and success to these bonds.

Rather than eradicating Greek life from our campuses, we should aim to hold all of our fellow peers responsible for their actions, Greek or not. While fraternityrelated drinking may make the news more often, the responsibility is on all college students. No other student should have to die because they were too drunk or their friends were scared of getting into trouble. While Greek life certainly warrants reformation, change is needed on an entire college level.

Students fear the consequences that will come when they look out for each other. They are scared that if they call for help, they will be punished. This fear is often what stops college students from picking up the phone and calling for assistance, and in many instances, the fear associated with punishments for underage drinking prevents students from seeking medical attention for their peers until it is too late for help to be effective. Even with the Good Samaritan law, students feel vulnerable.

These consequences are far less than what is at stake if we do not look out for each other. It is our responsibility to reach out for help and to know when the line is being crossed. No matter what the reprimands may be, the loss of a life outweighs all.

While neither Piazza nor Coffey were Binghamton University students, this has also occurred in our own backyard and can certainly happen again. Let us not overlook what they can teach us.

In the past weeks following the death of Andrew Coffey, a 20-year-old man pledging Pi Kappa Phi fraternity at Florida State University, fraternities and Greek life as a whole have once again come under fire.

Coffey’s death is far too similar to the death of 19-year-old Timothy Piazza, a Beta Theta Pi pledge at Penn State University, which occurred less than a year ago. After drinking until incoherence, Piazza fell down a flight of stairs. His need for immediate medical attention was ignored until it was too late, and the injuries he sustained due to hazing-related drinking led to his death.

If given proper care, Piazza and Coffey might both have lived.

Pointing fingers at Greek life is easy. Both students were pledging fraternities, and Greek life and drinking are often viewed as synonymous. Florida State University has suspended all Greek life in the wake of Coffey’s death, and even as a member of a sorority, I cannot say that I disagree with this decision. I think it is important for Florida State University students to take a step back and recognize the impact of Coffey’s death and to ensure that this does not occur in the future.

However, the problem with drinking-related deaths is not one that solely resides in the Greek community. Less than two months ago, a Lafayette College freshman died. He was not pledging a fraternity or attending a fraternity party, but simply fell and hit his head after drinking too much. His friends assumed that he needed to sleep it off, thinking nothing of his intoxication. While this was not as widely publicized, deaths due to drinking in college are not exclusive to Greek life.

Permanently shutting down fraternities and sororities is not the solution. Despite negative — Hannah Rosenfield is a news surrounding Greek life, the senior majoring in English.

Emotional-support animals should be allowed on campuses Response to Kristen DiPietra's 11/13 column Kara Bilello Columnist

An emotional-support animal is comfort. At the end of my 12hour days, coming home to my cat, Zip, is not only calming, but vital to my well-being and high-level functioning. He isn’t just a cat — he can keep me grounded through a panic attack or flashback with his presence. I am a student with an emotionalsupport animal, as are many other students at Binghamton University. We should not be required to justify our mental health to anyone.

No one can contest the fact that college is highly stressful.

Each student has their way of handling this turmoil, often finding social support among friends and family. But what if

this student does not have this type of support in human form, but rather, in an animal?

Obtaining an emotionalsupport animal is not a matter that the University takes lightly.

While I agree with Kristen DiPietra that those who lie about having a mental health condition shouldn’t be granted emotionalsupport animals, the system makes this highly unlikely.

I spoke with Jeremy Pelletier, assistant director of Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD), to find out more about this process. A clinician who knows the student well must fill out a detailed report specifying why the emotional-support animal would be beneficial to the student’s health and if they would be an appropriate caregiver for a pet.

The student must write a lengthy report detailing why they need

the animal and their specific plans for caring for it.

Both of these reports must undergo rigorous review by a committee through SSD, a process that can take months.

If the student is mentally stable enough to wait for their request to be processed, then they and their animal are granted the right to be on campus.

One BU student who has a support animal stated, “When you’re alone and you’re in those dark places, it’s hard to convince yourself that the reasons why you should get out of bed are worth the effort … the day I got Morrison I felt alive again.

He gave me purpose … we are a team.”

DiPietra brings up the issue of noisy or disturbing animals. If a student is approved to have an emotional-support animal, they must attend several meetings

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with SSD outlining the attached rules: the animal isn’t allowed outside of the owner’s living space, the property needs to be protected and the animal must be calm, quiet and well-behaved.

The student’s roommates must provide their consent before the animal is allowed on campus.

If any complaints occur, the student and animal are relocated.

DiPietra also states that the presence of emotionalsupport animals “compromise[s] the health, safety and peace of mind of other students,” yet when therapy dogs are brought to campus during finals week, countless students over-pack these events to relieve their stress.

Challenging the right of a student to have an emotionalsupport animal questions that person’s right to take care of their own mental health. In

fact, such questioning violates the Americans with Disabilities Amendment Act, to protect against the discrimination of those with disabilities, including “invisible disabilities,” including anxiety and depression, the most common mental illnesses on a college campus.

According to the American Psychological Association, respondents in the 2014 National Survey of College Counseling Centers stated that 52 percent of their clients had “severe psychological problems,” an 8 percent increase from 2013.

DiPietra does not stop there — she states, “If a student believes they cannot function without an emotional-support animal that is not a service dog, they might have to re-evaluate their mental health situation.”

It is worth noting here that in order to even be considered for

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an emotional-support animal, a student must be under the care of a mental health professional.

Ignorant statements, such as DiPietra’s, contribute to students’ fear of seeking help for their mental illness for fear of being stigmatized. We should never bash our students for having needs. Denying someone an emotional-support animal is akin to denying an inhaler to someone with asthma or hearing aids for those who have difficulty hearing.

Rather, we should be highlighting their bravery and commending the hard work that it can take to live each day. And if the presence of an animal helps, then it isn’t our place to judge or question.

— Kara Bilello is a junior double-majoring in English and Spanish.

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OPINIONS

November 16, 2017 | bupipedream.com

FAFSA should expand to include 'independent' students Students who pay for college on their own do not receive the proper aid

Emily Houston Columnist

There are two simple reasons that most of us decided to attend Binghamton University — it’s a good school and it’s cheap. But even with its comparatively low cost of attendance, $24,000 a year is not something that most college students have just lying around, so many rely on parents to help fund their college careers.

Parental coverage of all college expenses, however, is not prevalent — in May 2017, Forbes Magazine analyzed data from LendEDU, which conducted a survey of over 1,400 college graduates and discovered that only 9 percent of students had the

majority of their college paid for by their parents.

In comparison, according to the survey, 45 percent of college graduates did not have any financial help from their parents. Despite the fact that these students are receiving no financial assistance from their families, they go through the same Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) process as those who are.

I’m sure that we’ve all suffered through filling out the FAFSA, but it’s important to note that most students are considered “dependents” to their families, particularly when students decide to go to college right out of high school. This means the government automatically assumes that the family is

contributing to the student’s college fees in some capacity.

This qualification allows the entire FAFSA to be based upon the parents’ financial information — their taxed and untaxed income, their assets, their Social Security benefits and other circumstances.

All of this data is put in a formula that eventually results in the expected family contribution, which is then subtracted from the college’s cost of attendance to determine the financial need of each student.

Here’s the catch: At no point does the government confirm that the “expected family contribution” is actually going to be given to the student. Though the family is technically able to pay this determined amount of money to their child’s school of choice,

many parents decide that college is something that their children should pay for themselves, or that it is unrealistic for the family to be contributing this amount of money.

The financial aid that a student is offered to fund their college career is still exclusively determined by their family’s financial status, rather than their own. This results in a skewed amount of financial aid awarded that does not actually reflect the amount of money that the student needs to attend college.

This system is illogical. It is entirely counterintuitive that the amount of financial aid awarded to a student is dependent on the finances of parents who may have no intention to pay for their child’s college expenses. It does

not make any sense that students who are going to get funding from their parents — and students who are not — are both evaluated equivalently within the FAFSA. Rather, it is far more rational to permit anyone who is not receiving funding from their parents to be considered an “independent.” This would allow them to fill out a different form to determine the financial aid they receive, a form that does not include any expected family contribution and is therefore not solely dependent on their parents’ income — only their own. Their financial aid award would likely experience a significant increase, since the amount of money that they are able to contribute would be mitigated once it does not include their family’s “expected”

contribution.

We should be encouraging all students who want to go to college to do so. New York state has taken some steps forward in this area with the administration of the Excelsior Scholarship, but few states give this opportunity to students. The amount of financial aid awarded through the FAFSA can be the determining factor as to whether someone goes to college, or must enter the workforce instead. Changing the FAFSA process to better fit the needs of students all across the country is the government’s responsibility to support and promote a college education for all who seek it.

— Emily Houston is a junior double-majoring in English and political science.

Recognizing the downsides of the JUUL craze Although a healthier alternative to cigarettes, the high nicotine concentration can get first-time users hooked Gunnar Jurgensen Contributing Columnist

“Is that a USB? A flash drive?”

“Nah bro, it’s just a JUUL.” The JUUL by PAX Labs has taken college campuses by storm. I’m sure we have all seen people walking around carrying the small ergonomic device on the Spine, in the library, at the bar or even in lecture. According to CNBC, JUUL represented 27 percent of the dollar market share of the e-cigarette market from August to September. The company produces 20 million devices and pods every month, which is still not enough, as

they said they cannot keep up with growing demand.

With 41.3 mg of nicotine per JUUL pod, the buzz of a JUUL rip is unmatchable by most other e-cigs and especially more than your run-of-the-mill bogey. As I sit here, taking a hit from my JUUL and watching my friends do the same, I can’t help but wonder — what are we even vaping?

JUUL’s website states that each pod contains “glycerol, propylene glycol, natural oils, extracts and flavor, nicotine and benzoic acid.”

Firstly, what exactly is “flavor”? As I did some digging, I couldn’t find anything consistent with the Food and Drug Administration’s definition

for flavor — “any substance, the function of which is to impart flavor, which is not derived from a spice, fruit or fruit juice, vegetable or vegetable juice …”

The ingredient benzoic acid doesn’t sound great either. However, according to JUUL, benzoic acid is naturally found in the tobacco plant and contributes to the “ultimate vaping experience.” However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that benzoic acid can cause throat irritation and a cough when inhaled. They recommend getting fresh air and rest after inhaling it, but it’s safe to say most JUUL users aren’t taking a break from the highly addictive vape and aren’t getting fresh air while packed into the

moldy Rathskeller basement.

No long-term studies have been conducted regarding the JUUL, so it is hard to say whether it is a safe alternative to smoking cigarettes. For many people trying to quit smoking, however, the JUUL is an ideal means to do so.

For others who just started ingesting nicotine with a JUUL — it is far from perfect. Although it seems obvious that JUULs are less harmful when comparing its list of ingredients to the 4,000 or more chemicals found in cigarettes — for someone who hasn’t smoked and just picks up a JUUL, it could spell trouble.

Many students I have talked to say they hit their JUUL when they are studying and hyped up

Limiting loneliness

It should be treated like a medical condition Taylor Falter Contributing Columnist

only around 11 to 20 percent of the population reported feelings of loneliness. Today, similar studies put the number between 40 to 45 percent.

There’s no reason to think that the increasing trend of loneliness will stop. The factors that have given rise to it, predominantly social media, appear to only be gaining more prominence.

So, what should we do?

Should we all call it a day and stop using technology? Not quite.

There are some good first steps toward combating this issue. The problem isn’t so much modern-day technology as it is people using technology incorrectly and misidentifying its role. People need to understand that using social media as a replacement for real, genuine interaction simply doesn’t work.

Studies have found that using social media as a replacement for real-world interaction, despite its name, increases loneliness. Conversely, using social media as a way to facilitate real-world interactions has been shown to effectively lower loneliness.

We don’t need to abolish social media quite yet. Rather, what we should be doing is educating people about how real the threat of isolation is in modern-day life. If one isn’t cognizant of such issues, then they may find themselves using online interactions as a way of alleviating the discomfort of isolation.

We dedicate vast amounts of time in public education to inform children about the risks of smoking and the importance of eating healthy. Yet, when it comes to the issue of loneliness and, more broadly, mental health, little effort is expended in order to make people more aware of this issue and how real it is, despite the effects being entirely comparable.

The time to start taking issues like this seriously is long overdue, and failing to treat mental health as seriously as we do physical health could have disastrous consequences.

Suppose there was a condition that was linked to a 26 percent increase in your chance of an early death, that the prevalence of this condition was increasing and that nearly nothing was being done to address the problem.

As unfathomable as this might seem, this is exactly what is currently happening with the muted epidemic of loneliness.

Yes, loneliness. While one might not typically think of it as a serious medical condition, the effects it can have on one’s health are all too real. Studies of over 3.4 million people found that selfreported feelings of loneliness increased the likelihood of early mortality by 30 percent — not incomparable to statistics regarding obesity and smoking found in another study. The risks of one developing depression and-or mental and affective disorders skyrockets when one is exposed to any form of prolonged social isolation.

Humans are social creatures.

Evolution mandated that people be constantly socially interacting — your odds of surviving were much higher.

Consequently, the human brain is hardwired to crave social interaction. If it’s deprived of the type of external stimulation it is programmed to seek out, the results of such deprivation would be severely detrimental to one’s health. Fundamentally, subjecting the human brain to loneliness is like removing a fish from water — it simply isn’t built to function in those conditions.

This is quite problematic.

In today’s world, with online communication ever expanding and self-imposed isolation becoming increasingly attainable, it’s easier than ever to find oneself ensnared in the selfperpetuating trap of loneliness.

Day-to-day life simply doesn’t require the level of face-toface interaction that it used to, leading the amount of people who report feelings of loneliness to rise exponentially; studies from — Taylor Falter the 1970s and 1980s showed that undeclared sophomore.

is

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on caffeine or other stimulants.

They also say they have never smoked a cigarette when in the middle of a study session. Their reason was the ease of casually ripping their JUUL while at their study bunker in Glenn G. Bartle Library and the perception of less harmful effects from a JUUL when compared to cigarettes.

With higher concentrations of nicotine per pod than the average cigarette and the wild buzz that comes along with that, coupled with discreet usage, it is far easier for someone to become addicted to nicotine when they start ingesting it via a JUUL. This can be seen in people frantically searching when they think their tiny device goes missing, and when they do lose

it, immediately going out and buying another.

The JUUL was designed to help people quit smoking, but it definitely wasn’t designed to stop nicotine addiction — if anything, it has acted as a catalyst. As demand for the trendy device continues to rise, consumers should be aware of the lifestyle they are signing up for. It is a textbook example of a slippery slope that people need to be aware of when they decide to take a rip of their friend’s JUUL. Before they know it, they’ll find themselves on JUUL’s website ordering a starter kit.

— Gunnar Jurgensen is a junior majoring in political science.

DEAR

JESSICA Welcome to Dear Jessica, where advice columnist Jessica Gutowitz offers suggestions to make your life better. Submit a question at bupipedream.com/advice and you could be featured in next week’s issue!

Dear Jessica, Toward the beginning of the semester, my friend and I started hanging out with another friend group. Within a few weeks, I started to like one of the guys in that group. In the beginning we would talk almost every day, but now we barely talk at all and there have been times he hasn’t responded to my texts. He knows I like him, but he hasn’t done anything about it and I have no clue how he feels about me. Here’s the biggest problem: He got out of a four-year relationship a few months ago, and as of one month ago, he told me that he is still working to get over it. I just want to know if we have a future or not, but I don’t want to be pushy and I don’t want to disregard his feelings and the fact that he’s getting over an ex. What should I do?

Thanks, (Crush)ing Anxiety

Dear (Crush)ing, Thanks for writing in! It’s always difficult to gauge someone else’s feelings for you. In these situations, I think it is best to be direct and ask. You can spend weeks, maybe even months, pining after someone, only to find out that they weren’t interested all along, or you can simply ask and save yourself time and trouble. I would begin the conversation by acknowledging that you understand that he may need more time to get over his ex, but be sure to assert that you too have feelings and deserve to know whether or not they are warranted. If he is unable to empathize with your position, then maybe he’s not the guy you thought he was. This will likely be a difficult conversation to have, so I recommend planning some self-care for afterward, like maybe a walk in the Nature Preserve or lunch with a good friend, so that you have something to look forward to after and something to take your mind off of it if you get bad news. Good luck!

Dear Jessica, Although I’m in my junior year at Binghamton University now, I still have the same horrible weekend routine from my high school procrastination days. Once I’m done with class on Friday, I completely shut down and pretend like the mountains of homework I have just don’t exist until Sunday evening. This makes my Monday mornings even worse because I’m sleepdeprived after staying up all night trying to catch up. How can I break this habit?

Thanks, Procrastinating Perpetrator Dear Procrastinating Perpetrator, I think this is a common problem, and I have done this myself. Weekends should be for relaxation and fun, right? Alas, it’s near impossible to get all of our work done during the week, so you have to do at least a little over the weekend. I have found it helpful to block out particular times that will be scheduled specifically for homework. So, say, Friday afternoon after your last class you spend two hours getting a jump on your work, Saturday morning after breakfast you do three hours, and then Sunday evening you spend another three hours finishing up any homework and studying for any exams in the coming week.

If you still can’t see yourself doing several hours straight of work, you might try working in intervals. Put your phone out of arm’s reach and do 25 solid minutes of work, then take a five-minute break, followed by 20 minutes of work and a 10-minute break. Hope this helps, and happy working!

ARTS & CULTURE English professor brings love of philosophy to classes

Patricia Nieberg Staff Writer

Joseph Church, an expert in existential thinking and an associate professor of English at Binghamton University, said he began questioning the world as a young boy after learning that the Earth was suspended in the universe with nothing to hold it up.

“That bothered me tremendously,” Church said.

He envisioned Earth like an aquarium, with a ground to keep the planet from falling through space. White-bearded, soft-spoken and introspective, Church — who has taught at BU for 30 years — is the go-to professor for a philosophical chat.

Church grew up in Los Angeles and joined the Navy at 17. For the next four years, he worked in a ship’s engine room.

“My friends went on to really get into a lot of trouble, so being in the Navy isolated me from that,” he said. “By the time I came out at 21-22, I had really become far more responsible.”

He and his friends had a gang called the Fables, which he said he believes foreshadowed his future as a professor.

“I think it’s a prophecy that I was going to wind up somewhere in literature,” he said with a laugh. “I didn’t even know what a fable was in those days.”

After the Navy, Church went to community college at night and worked odd jobs during the day. At 29, he thought he would become a fiction writer similar to Woody Allen. Instead, he found himself at University of California, Irvine for

his master’s and doctorate degrees.

At the time, the university’s English department curriculum was based in philosophical literature, which he said drew him into philosophy and away from fiction.

“I started to awaken to the beauty and attraction of philosophy,” he said. “From that moment then in 1975, to this moment right here, I never left it.”

Church has since interlaced his teachings with philosophy. Dante Di Stefano, ‘15, took graduate classes with Church for his Ph.D. in English. Now, he teaches at Union-Endicott High School and said Church’s lessons still resonate with him.

“I teach ‘The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn’ every year at the high school and I still draw on insights I gained from Dr. Church in my instruction,” Di Stefano wrote in an email. “His intellectual curiosity is contagious and he truly does philosophize with a hammer.

His classes were more useful for my everyday practice as a high school teacher than most of my education courses combined.”

Besides his profound thinking, Di Stefano also recalled Church’s empathy as a professor.

“I remember I missed class one day, and I received an email from Dr. Church asking if I was okay,” Di Stefano wrote. “I had never had a professor do that before.”

When Church applied to BU, there were around 500 to 600 others in the running for a position, according to him.

“I didn’t deserve it obviously,” Church said. “I mean how could

Patricia Nieberg/Contributing Photographer Associate professor Joseph Church has been a professor of English at Binghamton University for three decades, including three semesters as part of the English department’s Semester in London program. Church is teaching ENG 450M: Existential Literature and ENG 380V: Metaphysics of Popular Culture this semester and frequently incorporates elements of philosophy into his courses.

I be the best? But that’s how luck is sometimes.”

Looking back, Susan Strehle, distinguished professor of English and one of his interviewers, said she remembers Church’s innovative thoughts and likable personality during the interview.

“We asked him questions about teaching as well as research and he was outstanding in both areas, with a real commitment to students,” Strehle wrote in an email. “As a person, Joe has a warm sense of humor and the ability to take

pleasure in life’s little ironies.”

Since his start, Church has taught British literature and ENG 380V: Metaphysics of Popular Culture, and he also currently teaches ENG 450M: Existential Literature. He has also taught for the English department’s Semester in London program three times and will be there again in the spring.

During his classes, Church encourages discussion. As he sits at the front of the classroom, he shifts from a pose similar to “The Thinker,” to a tight crouch. He is as

restless as a toddler in a car seat. As he moves about, he keeps the class on their toes — and he calls on every student who has a thoughtful look on their face.

Although teaching was not Church’s original plan, he said he finds his career very fulfilling.

“They actually pay us to have a job with a lot of satisfaction,” he said.

Sometimes Church thinks back to his first teaching gig when he was supposed to give a lecture on John Milton. Frozen with fear, Church

couldn’t make it into the room and he walked away, apprehensive about his whole future in the field.

The following year, he got his own composition class and found he was able to walk in with a confidence he hadn’t had the year before. A few weeks later, he got a call from a student’s mother who thanked him for the improvement in her daughter’s writing.

“It meant a lot to me — moments like that,” he said. “I remember thinking, ‘Maybe I can do this.’”

The buzz about the 'Bee'

HPC's 'Spelling Bee' opens Thursday night Carly Heitner Contributing Writer Take a trip out of Vestal and enter Putnam County this weekend at Hinman Production Company’s (HPC) production of “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.” Filled with upbeat musical numbers and scenes that break the fourth wall, “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” creates an exciting, comedic environment while homing in on the awkwardness of preteen years and the pressure of competition.

The show mimics an actual spelling bee, with the twist that the characters all have a distinctive quirk to them that helps them succeed in their spelling. As each character takes their turn, techniques such as whispering in hands, writing on arms, screaming into the floor and using feet to spell out the word are all used as ploys to ensure a victorious outcome.

According to Anna Rizzotti, the director of the show and a junior majoring in math, the production includes situations that everyone can identify with but are acted out through elementary-aged children, which provides a funny and youthful perspective.

“There’s something for everyone and everyone’s kind of like been in that stage of like, ‘I’m awkward and I don’t really fit in,’” Rizzotti said. “It’s funny, and at the end of the day it’s just such a relatable concept.”

HPC is bringing something new to its production by incorporating audience participation, a tactic that is often utilized in other productions of the show. In the beginning of the show, a few audience members are called onto the stage to participate in the spelling bee and are given words to spell alongside the cast. The audience members stay on the stage for a large portion of the first act

and are there until they spell their given word incorrectly.

There are hundreds of words in the script that Rona Lisa Peretti and Vice Principal Panch, the characters that run the spelling bee, can choose from, and they pick different words each night depending on who the participating audience members are. The cast never knows exactly how the audience volunteers will respond, which requires the cast to improvise.

“What’s awesome about ‘Spelling Bee’ is that it has so much audience participation and half the shows run off of it,” said Tyler McHugh, the assistant music director of the show and a junior majoring in electrical engineering. “It’s literally a different show each night, which is so different than what HPC has done in the past.”

HPC is known for its smaller casts and for turning the small Hinman Commons space into a true theatrical experience. For this production, the set features

posters throughout the theatre in order to create an immersive school atmosphere. All HPC productions are completely student-run, which fosters a connection between all the students involved.

“It really feels like a family with HPC,” said Ben McLauchlin, who plays William Barfée in the show and is a senior doublemajoring in graphic design and environmental studies.

“It’s mostly being able to tell these cool stories and doing it with people you care about and for people you care about at the University.”

Performances of “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” will be held in the Hinman Commons at 8 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday with an additional 2 p.m. matinee on Saturday. Doors open 30 minutes before each performance. Tickets are $5 for students, faculty and alumni and $8 for the public, and are available at the door.

Jacob Hanna/Contributing Photographer From left to right: Craig Bottner, a sophomore majoring in cinema; Kristen Kurlander, a junior majoring in nursing; and Brian Schwartz, a junior majoring in accounting. The Hinman Production Company production of “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” premieres Thursday at 8 p.m., with performances Nov. 17 and 18 at 8 p.m. and a matinee performance on Nov. 18 at 2 p.m.

Kevin Paredes/Photography Editor Instead of venturing Downtown for delicious, photo-worthy rigatoni alla vodka, you can make this Lost Dog Cafe staple at home.

DIY — and skip Downtown

Try these recipes instead of going out to eat John-Paul Keblinski Contributing Writer

With winter right around the corner, leaving campus and going to Downtown Binghamton for dinner is about to get much more difficult.

But don’t let staying inside stop you from enjoying the food you know and love. Impress your friends with Pipe Dream’s do-it-yourself takes on your favorite recipes from local restaurants.

F UN

Thursday, November 16, 2017

Lost at Sea, Can't See, Look at the Tree

Nate Walker

Horoscopes

The Cosmos

Workin' Harv or Harvly Workin'

Nate Walker Sudoku

Smart Boy: Doubt

Annabeth Sloan

By The Mepham Group

Level: 1 2 3 4 Solution to Monday's puzzle

© 2017 The Mepham Group. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency. All rights reserved.

11/16/17

FOR RELEASE NOVEMBER 16, 2017

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THE Daily Commuter Puzzle ACROSS 1 Companion 4 “Sesame Street” grouch 9 __ one’s cake and eat it too 13 Done; finished 15 Duplicate 16 Wild goat 17 Shabby bistro 18 1st extra inning 19 Delight 20 Indigestion 22 His and __ 23 Tap a golf ball 24 TV’s “Murder, __ Wrote” 26 Elevator alternative 29 Speaking rationally 34 Terre __, IN 35 James Earl __ 36 Compete 37 Yen 38 Like a capitol’s roof 39 Army vehicle 40 Part of a sock 41 Mother’s Day gift, perhaps 42 “Thanks, Pierre!”

43 Three of a kind beater 45 Threw small stones at 46 Ike’s initials 47 Harbor bird 48 Prison knife 51 Not afraid to speak up 56 Tiny skin opening 57 Indy 500 car 58 One, in Berlin 60 Come __; find 61 __ a hard drive; clear all data 62 Rescue 63 Fender bender 64 Ate 65 Strong alkali DOWN 1 Pea casing 2 Enthusiastic

by Jacqueline E. Mathews

Monday’s Puzzle Solved

3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 14 21 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 35

Impose a tax Groups of eight Dozed Ex-__; former prisoners Prefix for social or septic Talked over again Closer to the top Qualified Swerve W followers Breather; rest Untainted “For __ a jolly good fellow...”

Closes Fortune-teller’s deck of cards Hole-making tool Ajax competitor Singles Chris of tennis Female relative Lukewarm __ with; tease

©2017 Tribune Content Agency, LLC All Rights Reserved.

38 Like the pages of a well-read book 39 Toast toppers 41 Get __ of; shed 42 Liquefy 44 Church season 45 Sounded like a contented cat

47 48 49 50 52 53 54 55 59

Honking birds Tater Actress Lange Press clothes Calcutta dress Read quickly Lab bottle Be covetous Observe

November 16, 2017 | bupipedream.com

9

SPORTS

Free agency decisions spark questions of player loyalty Despite perceived betrayal, fans should reserve judgment for players' choice to leave franchises Marcus Budashewitz Contributing Writer

It appears that almost everyday, a different NBA superstar is having his jersey tarnished by an angry group of disappointed and disgusted fans. LeBron James made the infamous “decision” in 2010 to join the Miami Heat, Kevin Durant completed his controversial move to the Golden State Warriors in 2016 and, most recently, Kyrie Irving demanded a trade out of Cleveland this past summer.

As devoted and passionate fans, it is easy to question the

moral integrity of these players because we feel so emotionally invested in our favorite teams.

But the fact of the matter is that the NBA is first and foremost a business. Although it is our first instinct to lash out with personal attacks on these players, we need to recognize as fans that it is impossible to understand the factors that prompt players to “betray” their teams.

Of course, owners can love the game of basketball, but the primary reason they invest their money into an organization is to earn a return on their investment. Players can display their loyalty and commitment to an organization as much as they want, but when it comes down to it, those in charge do not care

what anyone’s name is or what they’ve done for their team.

Isaiah Thomas was the feisty underdog who embodied the Boston Celtics’ gritty roster that took a surprising first seed in the Eastern Conference last year. The 5-foot-9 all-star led Boston to the Eastern Conference Finals, all while battling through the severe emotional stress of losing his younger sister in a car accident.

And how was Thomas rewarded for this extreme devotion to his team and fanbase? He was traded to Cleveland less than three months after the conclusion of the finals in June.

Thomas exemplified loyalty, and yet the Celtics still felt no wrong in blindsiding him with a trade. If the higher-ups of these

teams exhibit such little respect toward their players, then the players have no reason to stay faithful to them.

Jahlil Okafor, who just a few years ago was propped up as the future of the Philadelphia 76ers, has played in just two of Philly’s 13 games this season (excluding Wednesday night’s game against the Los Angeles Lakers). The 76ers refused to even buy out the final year of Okafor’s contract, which would allow him to test free agency. Instead, the young athlete’s talents are rotting away at the end of the bench. What executives and general managers say one day may change the next.

There should be no expectation for players to look after anyone but themselves.

Basketball players are entertainers, and unlike musicians or actors who can work into their 70s, the window of opportunity for an NBA player is extremely limited. The average NBA career is only 4.8 years, according to Business Insider, so these professional players have limited time to make an impact. As seen with Okafor, it is possible for a once-promising career to come to a halt at any given moment. While the Duke alumnus’ journey in the NBA may not be complete, Okafor certainly has a smaller chance of succeeding than he had in the past.

If a lawyer leaves their old law firm to accept a higher-paying job, then they would most likely be commended for striving to support

their family, not shamed for leaving their old job. Even though NBA players do hold ties to large fan bases, the connection lies in two professionals trying to better their lives. When an NBA player leaves his beloved city, it is not to spite the fans — it’s a personal decision. Durant certainly still has love for Oklahoma City, but he felt that the Warriors provided him with a better opportunity to win.

He’s now an NBA champion.

Immediately after a player abandons his team, it is understandable that a die-hard fan would feel compelled to light his jersey on fire, or worse. But the next time a star departs for a new destination, take some time to consider the situation from the athlete’s perspective.

COMMENTARY

Loyalty in the NBA SEE PAGE 9 Thursday, November 16, 2017

Watkins adds 45 points in home stand

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL DOWNS PENN AND CORTLAND

Michael Steinberg Pipe Dream Sports

Following a 90-36 rout against Cortland on Monday, the Binghamton women’s basketball team found itself down 17-3 in the closing minutes of the first quarter against Penn on Wednesday night, prompting senior guard Imani Watkins to be benched. Things were looking grim for the Bearcats (2-1) until sophomore guard Carly Boland’s 3-pointer propelled them back into the contest, which they ultimately won 77-72.

On Monday night, senior center Alyssa James was honored for scoring 1,000 career points before the game. Binghamton put on a rare performance in which all its players scored and every player contributed double-digit minutes in a dominant victory over the Red Dragons. Led by Watkins and sophomore guard Kai Moon, who each scored a team-leading 18 points, BU quickly took a 19-3 advantage after the first quarter.

The Bearcats topped off the night with 26 assists.

Unlike the confidence and dominance displayed on Monday night against the Red Dragons, Binghamton got off to a slow start against the Quakers (01) on Wednesday. The Quakers’ senior guard Anna Ross began the game by rocketing off the tipoff to throw in an easy layup.

This was just the beginning of an explosion from Ross who opened the quarter going 4-4 from the field, scoring 10 points. With Ross’ help, the Quakers took a quick 17-3 lead.

For a moment, it seemed like

Ariel Kachuro/Contributing Photographer Senior guard Imani Watkins spearheaded the Binghamton offense with 27 points and three assists in Wednesday’s victory over Penn.

the Quakers were going to show the Bearcats a performance that Binghamton delivered two nights ago. Then, Boland helped propel Binghamton to a 7-0 stretch that brought the game within reach and trimmed the BU’s deficit to just seven points.

“I knew we could come back,” Boland said. “We just had to settle down and realize that we need to do the little things in order to win. Box out, get rebounds and just take it play by play.”

The Bearcats focused on those fundamentals to ignite

their explosion in the second quarter, scoring 24 points to bring themselves within one of the Quakers going into the half.

Watkins, who had been benched for nearly eight minutes for uncharacteristic play, was a big part of that second-quarter surge, posting eight points, including two 3-pointers, in the final four minutes of the quarter. Watkins finished the game with 27 points despite not scoring until the second quarter.

“Coach put me on the bench. Just seeing how well my

Week 11: Start 'em or sit 'em?

Evan Cole Assistant Sports Editor

Fantasy Football Quarterback Start: Alex Smith (KC): Smith is poised to put up huge numbers against a hapless Giants defense.

Specifically, the Giants have been prone to allowing big plays in the passing game. The Chiefs are loaded with dynamic receivers such as Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce, who will give Smith the potential for a monster game this Sunday.

Derek Carr (OAK): Carr has posted at least 300 passing yards in each of his past three games and has a great chance of continuing this momentum against the Patriots. In what is expected to be a shootout, Carr should be able to turn in a strong fantasy performance this week.

Sit: Matt Ryan (ATL): Ryan has yet to replicate the MVP numbers he tallied consistently last season, and that trend should continue this week as the Falcons travel to face an elite Seahawks defense. Even without Richard Sherman, Seattle still boasts a strong pass rush that should keep Ryan in check.

If you’re desperate: Ben Roethlisberger (PIT): Roethlisberger has proven he won’t put up otherworldly numbers anymore, but the Steelers still have an encouraging matchup this week.

Facing a poor Titans secondary on short rest, Roethlisberger has a high floor tonight.

Running back Start: Doug Martin (TB): Martin has struggled mightily in recent weeks, accumulating only 58 yards

on 28 carries in his past two games combined. However, he has an opportunity to turn his performance around against a Miami run defense that has been gashed by nearly every one of its opponents. Despite poor play recently, Martin has great potential this week.

Tevin Coleman (ATL): With Devonta Freeman likely out, Coleman will be the Falcons’ unquestioned lead back. Despite a daunting matchup with the Seahawks, the volume of touches Coleman will receive gives him a high floor.

Sit: Alfred Morris (DAL): Despite leading a committee of Cowboys running backs sans Ezekiel Elliott, Morris was not able to produce much against a decent Falcons defense.

Now facing a much more difficult matchup in the Eagles, both Morris’ opponent and competition within the backfield make him a risky play.

If you’re desperate: Kenyan Drake (MIA): Drake has done a solid job of filling in for Jay Ajayi, rushing for at least 65 yards in each of his past two games. He has an encouraging matchup in the Buccaneers this week, giving him potential for another encouraging performance.

Wide receiver Start: Robert Woods (LAR): Woods has a tough matchup facing a stifling Vikings defense, but the breakout receiver has been too good to be left out of fantasy lineups, regardless of his opponent. Woods should be targeted heavily as he is coming off a 171-yard performance against the Texans.

DeVante Parker (MIA): Parker has flown under the radar this season, as he has recorded at least four receptions and 65 yards in every full game he has played. With the Buccaneers ranking among the

bottom of the NFL in nearly every defensive category, Parker should be started this week.

Sit: Jordy Nelson (GB): Nelson simply has not been the same receiver in the absence of Aaron Rodgers, failing to top 35 yards and not reaching the end zone in any of his games with Brett Hundley at quarterback. Nelson should be kept out of fantasy lineups this week.

If you’re desperate: Jamison Crowder (WAS): Crowder has become Kirk Cousins’ favorite target of late, leading Washington in targets in each of his past two games played. Playing in the slot, Crowder should avoid unfavorable matchups against the Saints’ secondary and be able to get open often.

Tight end Start: Jared Cook (OAK): Cook has proven to take advantage of favorable matchups this season, and he gets another opportunity to continue this trend in what should be a shootout against the Patriots.

Jason Witten (DAL): Without Ezekiel Elliott, the Cowboys’ offense should be funneled more through its top receiving options — Dez Bryant and Witten. Witten should be able to perform well against an Eagles defense that has struggled to defend tight ends this year.

Sit: Charles Clay (BUF): With the Bills’ questionable decision to bench Tyrod Taylor, Clay will now depend on Nathan Peterman for targets.

Peterman’s lack of experience ultimately kills Clay’s fantasy value.

If you’re desperate: Austin Hooper (ATL): Hooper remains involved in the Falcons’ game plan, so he should see a few targets in the red zone this week despite a tough matchup with the Seahawks.

teammates played without me on the floor and feeding off of their energy,” Watkins said when asked what sparked the difference in her play.

The Bearcats were able to take the lead over Penn in the third quarter, pushing the score to 41-40 and taking a one-point lead into the fourth quarter.

Binghamton was able to hold onto the advantage to finish off the game, defeating the Quakers by five.

“This is a huge win for our program,” Cimino said. “I believe

that Penn is the best team on our schedule. They’re the bestcoached team we’re gonna play all year.”

The Bearcats’ bench played an integral part in the victory against the Quakers, outscoring the Quakers’ reserves 26-9 behind junior forward Rebecca Carmody’s 11 points and seven rebounds and sophomore guard Boland’s 13 points and six rebounds.

“We’re deeper than we’ve ever been,” Cimino said. “We’re two deep at every position.”

Coming off two consecutive victories, the Bearcats have a lot of confidence going into their upcoming games in the Great Alaska Shootout in Anchorage, Alaska.

“Hopefully, we’ll continue to improve as a program out there and [the road trip] will bring our kids closer together culture-wise, off the court,” Cimino said.

Before the trip to Alaska, the Bearcats will take on Southern Utah this Saturday. Tipoff from Centrum Arena is scheduled for 9:30 p.m. in Cedar City, Utah.

Bearcats prepare for PSU

Wrestling to host top program in the NCAA

Edward Aaron Contributing Writer

The Binghamton wrestling team is set to host the No. 1 team in the country, Penn State’s Nittany Lions, this Friday at the Events Center in Vestal, New York.

This will be a key matchup for the Bearcats, as the Nittany Lions are a powerhouse in wrestling, as well as one of the most well-known schools in college sports. Penn State’s wrestling program is coming off its second national championship in a row and its sixth in the last seven years.

“This season we crank it up, next Friday we crank it up against Penn State,” said BU head coach Matt Dernlan. “You can’t really overhype this when you’re talking about the most dominant team in college wrestling.”

Cael Sanderson has been the head coach at Penn State since 2009. Throughout his time there, the Nittany Lions have experienced immense success, winning six national championships in eight years, including the previous two seasons.

“We’re really going to find out what we’re about,” Dernlan said.

“And that’s what we want, people talk developing national champions and All-Americans but if you’re not putting yourself into the fire with these people that have actually done it, then it’s hard to figure out how to handle that process.”

Prior to Sanderson’s arrival at Penn State, Dernlan was the head assistant and director of recruiting for the Nittany Lions.

During his time in the role, Penn State successfully produced three consecutive top-four ranked recruiting classes from 2005-07.

After Sanderson was hired as head coach, Dernlan served as director of operations, winning back-toback national championships in 2011 and 2012.

In 2007, Binghamton faced off against Sanderson on the road at Sanderson’s former school, Iowa State. This was the highest-

ranked opponent Binghamton had wrestled against in program history, having very few matchups against top-ranked teams in past program history. BU lost that match, 30-15. The Penn State matchup will be similar in terms of the quality of the opposition.

“Once we actually put our hands on these guys, you get a bit of familiarity and insight and you realize what it takes emotionally, what it takes physically, what it takes mentally and focus-wise,” Dernlan said. “All of the little things that go into the dynamic of being one of the best guys in the country. That’s the output we’re looking for out of this experience.”

Last season, Binghamton traveled to State College to play Penn State in what was a 46-0 loss. Dernlan believes that this experience will help the Bearcats in Friday’s matchup.

“We know who they are and we’re embracing who they are and we’re going to get better from this experience,” Dernlan said. “It’s also a familiar experience for a lot of these guys, eight out of the 10 guys that will be on the mat this Friday night were at Rec Hall in

State College when we wrestled them last year, so they know what they’re up against and they know what the feel will be like. I think the identifiers that we have from our past experience are going to serve us well.”

BU opened its season last Sunday with a successful showing in the 2017 Jonathan Kaloust Bearcat Open. Penn State began its season with two dominant victories over Army and Bucknell.

“This is a premier event for our program, but it’s also a premier flagship event for the entire athletic department,” Dernlan said.

“I think somebody compared them to UCLA basketball coming to the Events Center. It should be a point of pride for everyone in the athletic department that we’re actually able to attract and bring the number one team and most dominant team in their sport to our home facilities.”

It is rare for Binghamton to compete against a team as highly ranked as Penn State in any sport.

It is even rarer for this matchup to occur at home. The match is set to begin at 7 p.m. on Friday from the Events Center in Vestal, New York.

Jonathan Flores/Design Assistant Redshirt junior Anthony Lombardo placed fifth in the 174-pound weight class at the Jonathan Kaloust Bearcat Open on Sunday.